MAGIC CARPETS

When I was commissioned to design shade structures for a small park near the Grand Canal, my challenge was to create something that would be visually compelling from different viewpoints: under the canopies, driving by, and from the tall office tower nearby. I designed a bold roof pattern to be seen from above and below. Echoing the sculptural fan motifs of the nearby canal bridge railings, fans of angled slats cast changing shadow patterns. I worked with a lighting designer to embed lighting in the ground beneath the structures. The raking light highlights the different angles of the slats, creating fades from dark to light, and creates glowing beacons for the park in the evening. 

I have developed a strong relationship with the fabricators that build these bridges. We work as team, trading ideas for how to translate my designs from computer models to built structures. Whenever I visit the shop, they show me their latest tools and tricks, which I use as inspiration when I’m designing the next project. 

Date: 2020
Location: Roosevelt Park, Tempe, AZ
Art in Private Development for Lincoln Properties through Tempe Public Art and The Grand at Papago Park
Materials: Stainless steel with integrated LED lighting.
Team: Magnum Companies, fabrication. Creative Designs in Lighting, lighting design.